Tag Archives: Devotion

Faith

Covenant Lessons from Father Abraham

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God desires a relationship with every man. It is only through a relationship with God that we gain full understand of who God is.


If our fellowship with God is weak, our hearts will be unable to dwell on the things of God.


It takes consistent fellowship with God to be able to understand the thoughts of His heart.



God relates with man on different levels; but there was a man in the old testament who became the friend of God – Abraham.


It is only those who have become friends with God that can be entrusted with His secrets.


True Friends keep secrets. God never wanted to hide anything from Abraham because he was a friend of God.


And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Genesis 18:17.

Here are some vital lessons believers must learn from Abraham’s walk with God:





Faithfulness to the Covenant:


Abraham was faithful to the Covenant between him and God, and he ensured his children and household followed his lead.



“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19.

Abraham’s faithfulness and loyalty is worth emulating. As believers we must live a life of faithfulness and loyalty to the covenant of Grace.


We must abide by the terms of the covenant ranging from faith to holiness and even consecration. We must also ensure we teach our children the tenets of this covenant and guide them into it.



The greatest inheritance we can give our children is to teach them the ways of God and show them the covenant.




A Life Of Sacrifice:


Abraham was sacrificial. He entertained strangers with the best of his flocks. He trained his nephew, Lot in the stead of his father without demanding a return. He was willing to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God.


Abraham was willing to go extra mile to ensure the completion of his obedience. May we not be satisfied in partial obedience as believers – because partial obedience is absolute disobedience.



The life of the believer is a life of sacrifice, we don’t own anything in God we are only made stewards.


“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1.


Absolute Obedience:

The life of Abraham is absolute obedience to God’s instructions. Obedience is our proof of our loyalty and submission to God.

One can’t claim to be a devoted citizen of a country and live in disobedience; one can’t claim to be a devoted Christian and live in constant disobedience to God’s word.

His WORD IS HIS COMMAND

Someone once asked, ‘How can you say I’m living in disobedience; God hasn’t spoken to me about His dos and donts before.

I deem this a fallacious statement. God does not need to appear to us in dreams and visions like He did with Abraham; His Word is His command to us. The Bible is the Book of God’s commands and instructions to believers.

When you do not pray as commanded in scriptures, you’re living in disobedience. When you commit the sins which the scriptures speak against, you position yourself in the path of disobedience.


“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8.

Abraham obeyed by faith – he obeyed God promptly.

There must be a consistent and accurate walk with God that secures our establishment in the kingdom.

Obedience and diligence are non-negotiable in the kingdom. If we must secure the working of God’s covenant in our life, they must be our watchword.



God testified that Abraham was His friend. He also testified about David. The covenant principles highlighted above when put into practice, will earn you the friendship testimony of God.


What will God testify about you?


Green-Hills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

GENERAL, Ministry, Spirituality

TOO BUSY TO SERVE GOD?

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If you claim to be too busy to live for and serve God like the early church because of how your city is, remember that Jesus did not die for only the early church. He died and rose for all men everywhere in every age until He returns. There is no special Holy Spirit in Acts of the Apostles. It is the same God, the same faith, the same baptism, the same commission, the same gospel.

Don’t be deceived, Rome was far busier and more secular than New York or Tokyo or Lagos. There were no phones or airplanes or even air conditioners then. It was probably harder to be a Christian. It will always be hard to be a Christian; hard for the flesh and hard in this world. The distractions may be more today, but the argument may be made that it is easier today than it has ever been to serve God. You have a Bible on your phone! Wow! People died to get copies of these things to us.

And know this: in this same Abuja, this same London, this same Boston, this same Montreal, this same Johannesburg – you have Acts of the Apostles believers and churches. People like you- business people, educated people, busy people who are living for the King and ready to die for Him; who pray like their hearts will break, who give like there is no tomorrow, who fast like a bride on her wedding morning- with great joy, who cast our demons, who speak with new tongues, who love nothing in this world though they have so much, and who fear no one though they serve and work with many people; whose eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; right here in this 21st century.

Drop the excuses therefore; Jesus is available for the taking. He is here for as many as will receive Him. The Bread of Life. The Word of God. The Prince of Peace. The Redeemer. The Saviour. The Author of salvation and the Perfecter of all those who come to God by Him. He is here calling for you to be with Him – the One who will remain long after this world has been judged and has passed away; to know Him and live for the eternal gain during your extremely short period on this terrestrial plane.

Many great cities have come and gone. Babel. Egypt. Assyria. Babylon. Athens. Rome. But He is forever. To see the ultimate will deliver you from the burden of the immediate. He is beckoning on you to lift up your eyes from the distractions of Lagos that you may behold the glories of the everlasting Logos.

Ebele UzoPeters

Spirituality

A Short Admonition on True Christianity

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Image Source: VectorStock

It is not in the church that Christianity is demonstrated, but in the world.

Christian worship is not just a matter for Sunday, but for Monday to Saturday. Not when you are singing in tongues with the microphone and choir on stage; not when you are dancing with glee during the praise session. Not when you raise your hand in the amen corner to say “Preach it sir”; not when you go to greet the pastor in his office.

Not when you are completing the minister’s scriptural quotations. Not when you are teaching Sunday School and feeling cool. Not when you sit under the teaching or fall under the anointing

(I tell you even an unbeliever can do all these things WELL)!

BUT

When a fellow driving poorly hits your car on the free way, or grabs the parking space you were waiting patiently for. When your subordinate does not greet you or is rude to you in the workplace.

When a fat smelly lady sits beside you on the bus. When the smell of freshly cooked egusi comes wafting your way on fasting day

When you discover your neighbor’s unprotected WiFi.

When your house–help drops your precious plate and it shatters everywhere on the floor.

When you get home tired and your wife starts nagging about everything. When some young ladies insult you because they boarded the same vehicle with you.

When you wake up with a headache, it is raining heavily and there’s no light (electric power).

When someone snatches your phone or purse.

When someone who owes you money is avoiding you you.

When your friends tell you to follow them on Friday night and to stop dulling,

When you are in the fifth month of a six month visa and thinking of staying,

That’s the time for songs,
That’s the time for tongues,
That’s the time for scriptures,
That’s the time for confessions,
That’s the time to dance in the Lord,
And to show you are a child of God,

That’s the time to demonstrate your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one that proclaims you righteous.

Brothers and sisters, if you want to worship God

Don’t just present yourself in your Sunday clothes.
Don’t just present your splendiferous songs.
Don’t just present your religious or spiritual Sunday self.
Don’t just present your footwork, waist bending or other dancing steps.
Don’t just present yourself as a pastor, an usher or protocol member following the pastor to and fro.

No, you must follow Jesus. Christianity is not only about being in Christ. It is also following Christ. To be in Christ is to be in the Spirit. And to follow Christ is to walk in the Spirit.

And to do this, you have to present your body, your very self; your inward and outward life to God as a living sacrifice. Not chic or tapping or slaying; but holy and acceptable.

This is your spiritual and true worship. It is your reasonable service. It is an all time Monday to Sunday two-four-seven thing.

That, is the time to be a Christian.

Ebele UzoPeters